Hello from the foothills! I'm going to start this post with The End, and you may guess from the first photo that I'm referring to the unusually long, depressive heat we've experienced since late spring. I am so glad to see this brown leaf and many others that have begun to expel themselves from our exhausted sugar maples. Goodbye summer of 2016 - you will not be missed.
We planted several tomato plants, as usual, but reaped nary a fruit from them. However, unnoticed at first, a total volunteer fought to live through the heat and lack of rain from under a pile of compost, and has bloomed and started producing our favorite Rutgers tomatoes. They are few in number and quite small, but we are thankful for small things like this right now. (I'm sure Ma Ingalls is nodding her head and sayin' "Been there!" from her heavenly abode.) Homegrown tomatoes are the best!
Ah now, this is a bright spot and also a freebie from last year. Some folks had sold their house and were having a moving sale, and I had commented that I loved their Double Rose of Sharon so the lady told me to take some cuttings if I wanted to, so I did. Of the two cuttings only one lived, but it rooted in no time and now is only one year old and blooming. Thankful, again. Love it.
Now, for a little Therapy. I readily admit I mostly knitted my way through the summer in my spare time. Knitting is a very calming retreat once you've mastered a few stitches.
I think Ma Ingalls might be a tad surprised how we like to wear our shawls these days. o.O I did enjoy the knitting, and this one is an asymetrical triangle, which shape I had not done before.
There was a bit of dog sitting within the family, and the owners rewarded me handsomely with this 6-cup measuring pitcher by Pioneer Woman. The pattern is Timeless, and I agree. That Pioneer Woman knows how to make everyday kitchenware beautiful.
If the weather is still holding you hostage, you have my deepest sympathies. Until next time may cool winds blow as soothingly in your neck o' the woods as, finally, they have in mine.
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| A shot of a gated community in the big city to our north. (Good Fences meme.) |
Joining in Creativity Wednesdays and Good Fences.
Good morning, I am with you on good bye summer-this week one morning-we had fall, and I think it is here to stay although we may still have some 80s pop in but hopefully not the extreme hot and humidity.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful when we notice the simple and beautiful things that pop up in our lives? I try to do that more now-always something my father did
I really love your shawl, my kind of colors too
enjoy your day-hugs Kathy
Thank you, Kathy, and yes, it's the little things that matter anyway. :)
DeleteHello, our summer did not feel that hot to me. Your tomato look yummy. I like the shawl and colors. Your new measuring cup is pretty. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen, and I'm glad your summer was pleasant. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteLovely knitted shawl ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy week ~ ^_^
Thank you, Carol, and thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment so I could find your site. :)
DeleteA very pretty series of photos!
ReplyDeleteJust this week our weather in Mississippi began to cool off a bit, and we are so thankful. Now our highs are in the 80s instead of the high 90s
Thank you, Lea. Those 80s are a relief to us, too. Thank fotr stopping by.:)
Deletepretty pictures...what a nice gift...i too like pioneer woman's kitchen stuff!
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya. I'm having to stop myself from getting the tablecloth that matches. lol
DeleteI love the shawl!! I'm a knitter myself and I agree with you that it is a calming retreat - you said it so well. You chose beautiful colors!
ReplyDeleteI hope your drought will come to an end very soon. We have been living in a drought for four or five years now, and while this year was a little easier because of a rather wet winter it's still quite dire.
Your volunteer tomato looks delicious, I imagine it being juicy and sweet.
Thank you, Carol! We.ve had some rain lately, just not in time for our garden plants to benefit from it. I hope your drought ends soon, too.
DeleteLove that shawl...!! I usually don't have time to knit in the summer... it's a winter project for me:)
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Bev. I usually don't knit through the summer, either. What with the heat, I just needed the therapy I get from it.
DeleteOh, I am SO glad to see this summer pass away as well! It has been miserable, hasn't it? Funny thing is we've had leaves turning brown and falling all summer long. That isn't a fun thing to happen in the summer but I sure am glad to see them turning pretty colors finally and gently drifting to the ground...and we have TONS of them! Love the pretty shawl scarf and I came across a wide array of Pioneer Woman's kitchen ware and the patterns are just so very lovely...and wonderful colors too! Enjoy your cooler temps and those falling leaves!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI think Ma Ingalls would approve of your shawl and wear it just like yours! I also love the blue crochet stars behind it!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased for you that the rose is doing well for you!
Enjoy the cooler fall days!
Thank you, Christine. I'm going to set the Rose of Sharon out in the yard soon. :)
DeleteGlad you are having some cooler weather. Your shawl is wonderful. From afar it almost looks woven. Hopefully it will remain cooler so you will have lots of opportunities to wear it! My blog list went AWOL so now I'm working on catching up and making a new one. Me and computers!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jane
Oh no, sorry about your computer problem, Jane. I barely know how to post myself. Thanks so much for stopping by.
DeleteWe don't garden, but my dad did when I was growing up. And you're so right...there's just nothing like a home-grown tomato. We have some rose of sharon bushes, too, and I love them. They begin blooming about July and continue until frost. I know you'll love yours. I've loved Pioneer Woman's blog for years. It's amazing what has evolved from her blog's humble beginnings. And I love that measuring cup!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! We have a regular rose of sharon that we got from Goodman's old home place just after his mom passed and love it, but it's getting a bit old and scraggly looking. I'm enthralled with the new one just because the blooms are double. I discovered PW only about 3 years ago, and yes, looking back she's come a mighty long way.
DeleteWhat a fun surprise to find the volunteer tomatoes. Such a pretty Rose of Sharon growing by the fence. Nice Shawl and a pretty gift for dog sitting.
ReplyDeleteHi Ida! It was fun to find that plant and that we had a possibility of a few home-grown tomatoes before winter afterall. They're so good. Have a great day!
DeleteHi Toni, Love your double Rose of Sharon. I have one that's growing by our driveway that a bird must have planted beause I didn't...not sure if it's a double or not. Yes, I'm ready for fall weather! Beautiful knitting! Lucky you with the PW cup! Love the pattern.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb. Don't you just love finding plants along the fence lines. We were gifted an American Elderberry bush by the birds. :)
DeleteI am glad the end of summer has finally arrived. What a delight to have tomatoes again! And your flower is a lovely shade of pink. I love the colors in your shawl. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mrs R. We're so relieved to finally see an end to summer. :)
DeleteThe change is fast I fear going from AC to heat soon. Beautiful treasures to share. My mom always said she was tending to her knitting. She would make her own patterns often. I miss her mittens she made.
ReplyDeleteYes, the change is abrupt and does have an eerie feel to it. I'd love to have seen the mittens your mom made.
Deletethe shawl is pretty! yay for cool down! finally had some cooler temps here in texas, too. yay for fall! thanks for the fencing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, TWG! I'm sure your just as thrilled as we are with the cooler temps. And I always enjoy your linkup. :)
DeleteAh, there's very little that is better than a home-grown tomato, even if it is a volunteer! I'm so happy your rose is blooming--it's quite pretty. My weather, down here in New Zealand is very springy and I am just waiting for the flowers to start coloring my garden.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring to you, Betty, and thank you for stopping by. :)
DeleteHello!:) Hello the weather here in Portugal is still quite hot, although much cooler than the 38degrees we had in the last few months. Your rose is very pretty, it's always more rewarding when a new plant is born from a cutting. That's a very warm and elegant looking shawl, and a neat way to wear it too. Have a nice day!:)
ReplyDeleteHello, and thank you for stopping in to say hello! I hope cool winds blow your way soon. Btw, your photos on your blog are really beautiful!
DeleteFirst off, we are right there with you on the tomatoes! We haven't had a good crop in years except for the year of the drought. It seems they really don't like humidity and rain... Hence, the dreaded "dry" year for the farmers was the year of the tomatoes for the gardens. And let me say, I LOVE your scarf! It is so very rich looking with the color scheme and pattern you chose! Ma Ingalls would agree with me I am sure :) Happy autumn to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, JES! You're right, tomatoes usually do well in the dry years. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWe are in your neck of the woods.HA!! We are at the NQC in Pigeon Forge. Have you gone since they have been coming here? It is wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteThe shawl is so pretty.
I dread the cold weather for health issues. It has been awful in GA with humidity. I hate that part.
Charlotte Moore
Hi Charlotte! I hope you are enjoying the convention, and now, I'm wondering if you sing? I have not been as we usually stay home except in the off season. Goodman and I find it difficult dealing with high volumes of traffic. Homebodies. :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful post! Yes, here in Central NY Fingerlakes, we too have had a dry, almost rainless summer and plantings withered and died no matter how much I watered. Just now getting some cool nights that made the pumpkin vines take off. The Shawl is awesome!
ReplyDeleteHi Kerrie! It's great to hear from you, and I hope you have a beautiful autumn.
DeleteYes it was hot, wasn't it. Luckily it was not so hot overhere in Europe. But we won't miss it, i agree !
ReplyDeleteThe worst part for us was the humidity on top of the heat. It just zaps my energy, but it's gone now. Yay.
DeleteOh this summer was just too much...but then I think I say the same about every summer :0) your shawl is just lovely and so is the cup! My tomatoes are just ripening :-/ ... they did not like the hot weather either. Have a blessed weekend! mari
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mari, and you have a blessed weekend, too.
DeleteThe shawl is lovely. I had several tomato plants that did really well last winter (our growing season here in the desert). Small tomatoes, but still delicious. Continues to be hot here but the cool down has begun. Only 81 degrees out there now at 8:47 p.m. During the summer, we never go below 100 even at night.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammy. I agree, they're delicious and we are enjoying the tomatoes.
DeleteWe do sing at church but sure not in this realm of singing. We stay at a motel and walk all the way or watch a Tram part of the way. We actually have been volunteers this year. It has been fun but tiring. This was our first time to do it.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte Moore
Good for you helping out at the convention. Hope you're having a great time. :)
DeleteYes, it is cooling off in Eastern Oregon, too. I think the East actually had it worse than we did this summer. Such a dry summer around here. I love that you are getting tomatoes! And that Rose of Sharon is just beautiful. I think Ma Ingalls would be proud of your attitude :) Just spun out 3 gallons of honey from the hive the kids caught this spring :) Hoping for more hives next year!
ReplyDeleteThe measuring pitcher is so beautiful...
ReplyDeleteplease visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com
I am also glad the summer is finally over. Our nights are under 20C (68 F) which means we no longer sweat while trying to sleep but are able to sleep peacefully. However, no rain for us for the last 140 days! Farmers here usually buy water for their crops. I guess your tomatoes sound tastier (and cheaper!) now. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have never made an asymmetrical shawl either. Somehow they make me feel uneasy as I like my garments well proportioned and yes, symmetrical. lol Love the colours you chose and how it turned out though. I hope you can wear it soon!
Oh, good for you. We are still waiting for our first rain and the weather is not even cold enough for that lovely shawl :-)
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I'm glad fall is here and the hot summer is over. I like the cooler weather. We are still waiting for rain. Your shawl is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love the Fall most of all! I even like snow though, ha! Your Shawl is gorgeous, love the pattern.♥
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shawl and I also love the colors. On here the leaves are dancing on the ground, it's Fall!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
Hugs and love from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
It has been a while since you posted this (think I missed it somehow!) Hoping all is well and that you are enjoying a beautiful autumn after that hot summer!
ReplyDeleteSweet friend, the shawl took my breath away...it's stunning!
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying cooler days here in the mountains. For the last two weeks we have had the joy of having a fire in the mornings and evening :)
Happy weekend, my friend. Hugs!
I love your shawl. It's splendid.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the evenings and mornings are getting cooler. I'm glad summer is ending. What a relief to see fall.